Response:

I believe you have answered your own question when you state "I figured that if you gave glory to God for gracing you with all of the above then how would it be priding in yourself?". There is a big difference between swaggering into a room wearing your uniform and expecting everyone to gush all over you, and telling people that you praise God for giving you the opportunity to serve in the military. It is one thing to give God thanks and praise for blessing you with a talented son, and another thing to stand up and yell "That's my boy!" in an attempt to take the focus off of both him and God, and place it on yourself. As far as being an American is concerned, we have nothing to be proud of there. God chose the nationality of my birth. I surely thank Him for His choice, but it was His choice. The Bible tells us that whatever our hands find to do, we are to do it with all our might (Ecc 9:10). When we have done a good job, all we are is obedient servants who have used the talents that God gave us in the situation that God put us in to bring Him glory. Remember what Christ said in Luke 17:10: "So likewise ye, when ye have done all those things which are commanded of you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do."

Part of the problem here stems from our use of the word "Pride". What you are talking about (I believe) is not pride: it is gratefulness. Thank God for my country, my job, my son, my talents. As long as the focus, and the Receiver of the glory, is God, then there is no problem. When the focus turns away from God towards me, then it is Biblical pride, and it is a sin. God said, "I am the Lord, that is My name, and My glory will I not give to another" (Isaiah 42:8). Any glory I take for myself I steal from Him.

May the Lord bless you. And, by the way, thanks for your service to this country. All too often we forget to say it.

By Dr Mark Montgomery Ambassador Baptist Church 1926 Babcock Blvd Pittsburgh, PA 15209 (412)477-3210